hartleyhair wrote:
Meh, I'll have a go.

For Submission: The Two Circles

Click here to view the secret text

×
The Two Circles uses a more aesthetically pleasing form of Binary, with Circles and lines rather than ones and zeroes. Each of the two Circles is divided into four segments, making eight Radii. On the Radii are written (from outside inwards) circles and lines, representing 0s and 1s respectively. The number is written in much the same way as binary, but with the last digit first and working clockwise. Circles are placed in normal binary order.

Translation to ordinary numbers: As in binary.

For examples, please see attached file. Sorry to use a Word Document (I know not everyone has Word) but no other formats seemed to work...

EDIT: Ok, fixed the incorrect 29.5 quintillion example.

calamarain wrote:
For Submission: Shorthand Lines

Click here to view the secret text

×
An ancient system of representing high numbers, was found hidden in a dark corner of the DROD forum and has recently been brought to light by Internet Archaeologists, after going through several traps and a whole heaping load of forum games. After cleaning up the stone tablet that the system was found on, the archaeologists realised that the writing was too faded to read, even under oblique light...

...so they scrapped the project, lied and made up a bunch of crap at the last minute. But don't tell anyone!

Click here to view the secret text

×

The system of the shorthand lines is designed for efficiency but is reasonably calculable on the back of a napkin. The number in question is converted to octal (base 8) and each digit is replaced with the appropriate shorthand. The number is then written out in three lines, each with eight digits. If the number is insufficiently long to make three complete lines, any space at the end is filled in with the "blank" digit, until the end of a line is reached.

In order to decode the number, all one does is read off the digits of the tattoo, giving you the number in octal

Technically you have the number then... but if you want it in a more conventional form, you convert base-8 to base-10, giving you the original number.

Thus, you can scrawl the number of any DRODDER ever very quickly in your own blood.

Plus, you don't need to have it in the simple form of lines. They can be quite innocuous, and be encoded into other things. A few twisted wires left on the street. The lines in a painting. A readout on an electrocardiogram. Who knows, one could be written in your room right now?

Dischorran wrote:
For Submission: Abstract Linear

Click here to view the secret text

×
Somewhat similar to Calamarain's, unfortunately (honest, I made this before reading his post ) - I would hope that he would be given some preference in voting for getting in before me.

The attached jpg (made in beautiful, beautiful Powerpoint) is pretty much essential for the description.

This is a standard positional base 10 system. 0=O, 1=|, 2=-, 3=/, 4=\, and 5-9 repeat 0-4 with a shorter line crossing it (or in the case of 5, a line spanning the width of the circle at any arbitrary angle). However, instead of position being read right to left starting at ones and going up, position is read by connectivity; the ones digit is marked by a filled-in triangle, the tens digit would "sprout" from it at any position, the hundreds digit would "sprout" from the tens digit, and so on. Repeated digits, aside from 0 and 5, would be separated by a dot for clarity, e.g. 22 = (triangle)-.- or -.-(triangle)

As seen in the representation of my own DROD number, this can yield many possible representations of a given number to suit the taste of the individual, although it is highly recommended to choose a simple, largely unidirectional representation for large numbers. The numbers are quite sensitive to the orientation of the overall figure relative to the viewer, but one would hope that in the case of a tattoo orientation would be implicit (if it is not, one would hope that the design would be recognizable to the next of kin).

techant wrote:
For Submission: My simple code

Click here to view the secret text

×
Use the chart below, but if you know your alphabet in English then you can probably do it in your head. Since the same number is used for either caps or lower case it keeps it simple. The capital letters help shorten the name when there are adjacent repeated numbers. The command to repeat always follows the letter to repeat. If a number has no repeating sequences then it is ended with a '*Z'. This tell us it is a member number and not some grossly misspelled word.

Also group the letters in sets of 4 starting from the left, do this unless one letter will be left alone, in that cas a single last group of 5 is fine. Also do not split caps count them as one letter this may result in a second to last group and a last group with less then 4 in their respective groups, that is allowed.

Table seen as separated sections:

Click here to view the secret text

×
a=1
b=2
c=3
d=4
e=5
f=6
g=7
h=8
i=9
z=0


*A=repeat the previous letter 1 time [an example would be 'a' (used in cases of two or more digit numbers)]
*B=repeat the previous letter 2 times aa
*C=repeat the previous letter 3 times aaa
*D=repeat the previous letter 4 times aaaa
*E=repeat the previous letter 5 times aaaaa
*F=repeat the previous letter 6 times aaaaaa
*G=repeat the previous letter 7 times aaaaaaa
*H=repeat the previous letter 8 times aaaaaaaa
*I=repeat the previous letter 9 times aaaaaaaaa
*Z=repeat the previous letter 0 times (used mostly for 10's 20's 30's etc. and decoration)
For numbers that repeat more than 9 times use two letters such as if they repeat 12 times then use *AB or repeat 12. The repeated letter always precedes the command to repeat.

My own very simple number 533 translates as:

ec*B
Which I happen to think looks quite sharp and I may tattoo it somewhere soon.

A longer number with repeating numbers like "249999999999999999999" would read as "bdiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" but when encode it is the easier to read "bdi* AI"

Then there is the poor fool who got the number '1' well that would look like 'a*Z'. And the poor fool who got the last number 29.5 quintillion (29500000000000000000)
well that ones not so bad. biez *AG
TESTED:

The Tattoo Test (Aesthetics)

Click here to view the secret text

×
The Tattoo Test is a measure of how aesthetically pleasing the depiction is.

OK, here you have plain English letters but they can be displayed in very artistic ways. Since most tattoo parlors already have tattoo based on English lettering you will save money, and they will not have to developed new product. Then there are all the fonts available to choose from, some are quite lovely. Also the flowering multiplier can be done in many artistic ways.

Remember some fonts can give you quite an artistic piece of work ready to put on your mouse pad or mug.

The Drawn In Blood Test (Elegance)

Click here to view the secret text

×
The Drawn in Blood Test is a measure of how efficiently a depiction of a number conveys information. The preferred system would let you identify who you are with a minimum of strokes. You've only got so much blood, after all.

It would figure the only killer in the bunch got one of the numbers impossible to shorten using this method, something like 29459062863487659021.

29459062863487659021
bide izfb hfcd hgfe izba *Z
Even though they are easier to write because of the breaks the police realizing that the victims might not have enough time (or blood), if they ever did need to write such a killers number out in blood, have recommended the following:

"When writing your killers name in blood make sure you get the last letters rather than the first. If you know how many letters there are then just break it into set of four letters. Make lines tell how many sets of 4 there are and give us as many of the end letters as you can. We will narrow it down from there." Many murder mysteries dramas have been written so the public gets use to this method and knows what to do.

In the book "Mystery of the Missing Book" the victim wrote...
"o*k ...h iazf ibed*Z"

The great detective Grub Brick solved the case when it was discovered that rather then a set of numbers in the beginning of the victims scribbles it was a word. The victim was pointing to a fellow book dealer who hated the victim and whose number was longer than what written. The 3 dots told Det. Brick that there were 3 more groups ahead of these letters. Det. Brick deduced the last digits of the number to be "..891069254" and the *Z at the end told him there were no sequences of repeating numbers. He made quick work of it and found the only book dealer with a number that fit that description. The book dealer confessed and all ended well (except for the dead guy).

The Cocktail Napkin Test (Encodability)

Click here to view the secret text

×
The Cocktail Napkin Test is a measure of how easily a depiction of a number may be encoded. If you know somebody's DROD Number, how long would it take you to work out the depiction of it on cocktail napkins?

This test is easy to pass with my simple rules. Convert the numbers to letters and anytime they are adjacent and repeat you add the repeat command. The capital letter(s) tell how many times to repeat. Since the number is the same for both the capital and lowercase it is easy to recall the code. Add the spacing as you go and you are done.

"To make this concrete, if I give you the number "3450987340", how will you arrive at the user name that represents it? This would be an example of the encoding task."

So, for "3450987340" you get "cdez ihgc dz*Z"

If the number was different by say one digit, say "35560987340" or "34560987340", then with this system the contrast would stand out more then with the numbers. This is because people tend to group letters into sounds or units trying to make words, so they view them differently.

3550987340 or 3450987340
ce*B zihg cdz or cdez ihgc dz*Z

The "Hey, I Know You!" Test (Decodability)

Click here to view the secret text

×
The "Hey, I Know You!" test is a measure of how easily a depiction of a number may be decoded.
Being familiar with the first letters of the alphabet this system can be easily decoded in the steam bath. The only issue is remembering all the numbers when it is a larger numbers but that is true for any system. Try writing it on the steam covered wall.

Edited:
Fixed table error where J=10 was left instead of Z=0.
Fixed how does one look.
Fixed to obey this rule: * Each depiction for a number is repeatable, so that someone following your numeral system's rules will create a consistent depiction for any given number. As pointed out by Jutt

Sillyman wrote:
For Submission:

Sword System

Click here to view the secret text

×


On the left, 29.5 quintillion. On the right, 1.

Alright, here's how it works: It's a grid of several digit-ish elements, that I shall call "Smiters". Each smiter has a central element (With some method of distinguising direction) (Henceforth "Body") in the middle and lines of some sort(Henceforth "Swords") around it. The swords and body are valued as such:
923
814
765
Multiply the values of the swords and the body. There may be an arc between two swords, or a connection ("Hilt") between a sword and the body, if so, add them instead.
Now, this may not provide for many values, but you can have more than one smiter in the same number. Multiply all the smiters in the same collumn together, then add the collumns.

There are an infinite number of different representations of any one number. To encode a number, I suggest starting large and going smaller. This often provides a more effecient encoding.

I was inspired by DROD, as you may be able to tell. It does require knowing what direction the numeral was written, to fix that, I had the central dot require a small missing bit. Also, it was somewhat of a hassle to calculate a short transcription of such a large number as was required, so I just used a bunch of 100s and multiplied them together, then got the largest number I could easily make that was smaller than 295.

Tests coming up...

The Tattoo Test (Aesthetics)

Click here to view the secret text

×The Tattoo Test is a measure of how aesthetically pleasing the depiction is.

This can be quite artistic, you don't have to have a simple pixelated bitmap like I did. So long as the individual smiters and swords and connections can be picked out, as well as which direction the whole thing is facing, you can stylize it however much you want. Also, it is based off of aesthetically pleasing elements.

The Drawn In Blood Test (Elegance)

Click here to view the secret text

×If you can think well enough, you can make a number quite compact. Also, the figures can be scaled down significantly and still be recognizable. Multiplication is very effecient, this helps.

The Cocktail Napkin Test (Encodability)

Click here to view the secret text

×The Cocktail Napkin Test is a measure of how easily a depiction of a number may be encoded. If you know somebody's DROD Number, how long would it take you to work out the depiction of it on cocktail napkins?

Not very long. Simple strokes can make the depiction, and if you don't bother optimizing for space, you can easily think of the representation, too, if you don't mind a little mental math.

The "Hey, I Know You!" Test (Decodability)

Click here to view the secret text

×The "Hey, I Know You!" test is a measure of how easily a depiction of a number may be decoded.

So you're relaxing in a public steam bath, and you notice somebody next to you is sporting a sweet DROD Number tat. Hmmm, that DROD Number looks familiar. Is this person an old friend from back in the day, or maybe a bitter arch-rival? A good representation won't be hard to decode. Maybe you could work it out in a few minutes. And if you don't have to cart cocktail napkins into the steam bath, so much the better. We all know what a soggy mess that makes.

Well... this may require mental math. Oof, that's a lot of multiplication and addition, actually... yeah, this test fails. Soggy napkins.

Remlin wrote:
For submission: Drodlish

Click here to view the secret text

×
1 = ac
29.5 quintillion = eminabababababababab

This system translates two consecutive digits into two letters, a vowel and a consonent. (5 vowels and 20 consonents makes for 5*20 = 100 options - perfect! "y" is left out in the cold for not choosing a side and sticking with it.) This is essentially base 100 (which makes it easy to translate), but with the 100 'digits' chosen to guarantee you a pronounceable if not downright singable number.

To encode, first add a 0 at the beginning if needed to make an even number of digits total. Break the number into groups of two digits. For each group, divide by 20. The quotient, which will one of 0,1,2,3,4, corresponds to a,e,i,o,u. The remainder will be in the range 0 to 19 and correspond to the 20 consonents. (0 = b, 1 = c, 2 = d... 19 = z). Put all the letters together, and you're done.

For example, let's encode 9340782439083. Add a 0 and break into groups of 2, to get 09-34-07-82-43-90-83. Now 09 divided by 20 is 0 remainder 9, or a + m. Then 34 gives 1 remainder 14, or e + s. Continuing gets am + es + ak + ud + if + un + uf, or amesakudifunuf. Coincidentally, my childhood nickname.

To decode, reverse the process. Break your word into groups of two letters, which will each be vowel-consonant. Once again a,e,i,o,u represents 0,1,2,3,4, and the consonants are numbered in order, b = 0, c = 1.... For each letter group, multiply the vowel value by 20 and add the consonant value to get two digits of the final number. If you were trying to decode "ibod", from "ib" you'd get 2*20+0 = 20, from "od" you'd get 3*20+2 = 62, final result of 2062.

I like this system both because of the ease of translation from base 10 to base 100, and because the final result is much more fun and easy to remember than an actual number of the same length. Here's how I think this system does on the various tests:

Click here to view the secret text

×Tattoo test.
In Drodlish, your number is transformed into a beautiful expression, almost poetry. I foresee people adapting their Drodlish number for forum user names, email addresses, even legal name changes - getting it tattooed is a no brainer.

Drawn in blood.
It's a worst case of twenty letters. My familiarity with the art of blood writing extends no further than "the butler did it", and that's 14 letters. I'm sure you can squeeze out another six - use intestines if necessary.

Cocktail Napkin, and Hey I Know You.
Both for decoding and encoding, once you've memorize the order of the twenty consonants - and if you haven't, it's just a song of ABCs away - the rest can be done in your head. The math never gets any harder than dividing two digit numbers by 20.

mrimer wrote:
For submission: Base 1000, triple compacted digits, or numeral dials

Click here to view the secret text

×
Design rationale:
We're highly used to the arabic numeral system and base 10, so it's easy for us to encode and decode such values. We're also used to grouping the digits in a large number into sets of three, or orders of one thousand. We have words to describe these orders of one thousand: thousand, million, billion, trillion, etc.

We're also used to reading values off dials such as clock faces, which have multiple hands, and power/volume dials, which count from 0 to 9 clockwise around a knob. When the numbers on a clock face are removed, we can still figure the time from the placement of the hands, and out of familiarity do this with relative ease.

Thirdly, we're familiar with the concept of locally offset symbols representing larger units of information. For example, a small icon could represent a single unit while an adjacent large icon represents a group of five, ten, fifty, etc. Consider how the stage number is represented in games like "Dig Dug" and "Galaga", or how a small square represents an energy tank of 100 energy units in the "Metroid" health interface).

Combining the intuitive features of these systems gives us a simple, compact, easy to read and write representation of numbers effectively in base-1000.

How to encode/decode:
Each order of one thousand occupies a place/position in the number, with each higher order of 1000 being placed to the left of the one previous (like our conventional system with positional orders of ten). At the center of each digit is the ones place, represented by an arabic numeral. A short, thin line represents the tens place and a dot the hundreds place. The line and dot are placed periperally around the ones digit, with positions from zero to nine in clockwise order. For example, "50" is represented by a line being drawn from the numeral "0" to the six o' clock position, or straight downward. For large numbers, it is often the case that tens and hundreds places are absent (zeroed). So, we may omit the line and dot in places where they are zero. This gives us large numbers in a compact notation. Dots overlapping a (much thinner) line are still easily visible.

Depiction of numbers:

1
29.5 quintillion (29 500 000 000 000 000 000)
111
1,234,567,890

Supplemental info:

Click here to view the secret text

×
Extensions: Decimal numbers could also be represented as a straightforward extension of this system. Many mathemetical symbols may be applied to these digits as usual, and in some cases may even have a more elegant notation.

Variants: We could make compacted number forms of an order greater than one thousand (say, one million per digit place), by having more than two values around the center of the dial. However, this increases complexity, becoming both more difficult to read and not reducing the number of marks/strokes required to represent large numbers. So I settled on this triple-digit grouping as the most balanced according to all the aspects considered here.

Aesthetics:
Any number of stylistic elaborations or simplifications in design could be made to these digit groupings without obscuring their values.

Elegance:
The same or a smaller number of strokes is required to depict numbers in this system than with the traditional arabic numeral decimal system.

Encodability:
As easy or easier to write down than traditional arabic decimal numbers. For each order of one thousand, the ones place should be written first, followed by the tens/hundreds place markings.

Decodability:
As easy as reading the time off a clock face for each order of one thousand: dot first, then line, then numeral. The magnitude of large numbers is easier to eyeball in this system than in a base ten system (or any system with a base less than one thousand, probably).

Jutt wrote:
For Submission: Contour Script

Click here to view the secret text

×
The Countour Script is basically a representation of decimal numbers, but in a way that is much more visually appealing and distinguishable. As it is designed for Drod numbers, it is standardized for 20 digit numbers, as these should be sufficient to hold any possible Drod number.
Although it is based on connection lines on a square grid, it should be easy enough to work without such grid. However, for the sake of explanation it will be used in this article.



Encoding and Decoding

Click here to view the secret text

×As a sample Drod number we will use 14952508663204587912. To encode a Drod number into Countour Sript, it must have 20 digits. Therefore, in case of less digits, zeroes will be added in front until 20 digits are reached. The number will then be divided in 5 groups of 4 digits. In our case we get 1495 | 2508 | 6632 | 0458 | 7912.

The next step is to draw each of these groups on a square grid. For the first group we take one grid point, which we will call the center of the group and there we draw a dot as reference point. Around this dot the closed contour of a shape is drawn, consisting only of horizontal and vertical lines connecting grid points. To draw the part of the countour representing the first digit we use the following representations of the digits 0-9.

Click here to view the secret text

×

Note how the 0 consists of no contour lines at all!
As you can conclude from its relative position to the center dot, the first digit is drawn on the top right side of the center. The other digits will follow in clockwise direction around the center; the second comes on the bottom right side, the third bottom left and fourth top left. For these digits the same representations are used only rotated 90, 180 and 270 degrees respectively. Doing this for our sample number gives the following:

Click here to view the secret text

×

The next thing to do is to close the contour everywhere by connecting the consecutive digits to eachother. The contour parts of all digits except for 0 and 5 have two open ends. Sometimes the ends of two consecutive numbers already connect by themselves. In other cases they must be connected by adding one more line. Since the 0 and 5 don't have open ends, we concider the center dot as their open end, which should be used for connection with other numbers. In our example we have to add some lines:

Click here to view the secret text

×

Now that the first group of digit is finished – you can see it fits nicely in a 4x4 square – we can proceed to the next group. The 5 groups are drawn from left to right, with a distance of 5 grid units between the centers such that the groups won't overlap. To finalize the representation of the number a horizontal line three unit distances below the centers will be drawn to indicate that is the bottom side.

Click here to view the secret text

×

Decoding should be quite trivial with the knowledge how to encode.
- In each block of 4 digits remove the connections between digits. These are always the parts of the contour that lie on the horizontal and vertical lines through the center.
- Convert the contour parts in each group in clockwise order starting with the top right part. This is done by rotating them into standard orientation and using the reference table earlier in this article.
- Processing all 5 shapes from left to right should return the digits of the original number in correct order.

Samples

Click here to view the secret text

×Below a few samples of some numbers you might encounter.

0:


1:


4125:


12345678901234567890:


29499999999999999999:


2.95*10^19:

The tests

Click here to view the secret text

×Tattoo test: The shapes this system creates can be quite intreaguing. They are simple, but still can look interesting because of symmetry or resemblance to objects, symbols or whatnot. Note for example how the 3rd shape in the encoding example looks like the letter K.

Drawn in blood: One major advantage is that the system allows for drawing shapes in a continuous line. The contour of every group of four digits can be drawn without lifting your pen (except for fives, which require additional squares). This allows for reproduction of the number in an efficient way, if necessary with your own blood.

Cocktail Napkin: The encoding of a number is about as simple as remembering the representations of all digits. With those in mind you can draw any number within seconds on a paper napkin. No base conversions needed!

Hey, I know you: The drod number is depicted as only five shapes, which are built up in a very simple way. Shapes are usually much more distinctive than strings of numbers or letters and therefore easier to remember. Certain shapes may stand out, which will help to quickly recognize people, or subconciously remember them.

Sillyman wrote:
For Submission #2:

EENHADINUMS

Click here to view the secret text

×
Alright, anybody remember ENHADINUMS? Yeah. This extends them. There are 5 basic digits:
|- one
+- two
#- four
.- minus one
:- minus two

In addition, all the other tricks in the article are valid, though not necessary. Now this is the new part: By writing a line over a number, you multiply it by 1000. By writing a line under a number, you multiply it by 10. There are, again, an infinite number of ways of representing any one number. Direction should be unambiguous if at least one -1 is in the number, but if it is not, either indicate direction or choose a different representation.

29.5 quintillion (29500000000000000000) on the left, 1 on the right:


Testing, one two three:

Tattoo Test: Not very artistic, but with a little thought, you can embellish it.

Drawn in Blood: Somewhat compact, and straight lines, which is easier to draw. But in a worst case scenario, it could be larger than decimal...

Cocktail Napkin: Again, a little mental math, but easier this time. If you don't want a complex depiction, you can simply build decimal out of the system and raise it to the necessary power.

Hey, I know you: Not that hard to distinguish. There is more than one representation of any one number, so it may take a little thought if you remember it differently. But the number can be reconstructed with ease.

zex20913 wrote:
For Submission: Number and Place

Click here to view the secret text

×
The key elements of any number in our base 10 system are digit and place. What my entry does is it represents the place value in a new and somewhat artistic manner.

Information Image: Attached in a Word document.

Encoding:

Click here to view the secret text

×List all digits (1-9) used, once and only once. Take one digit. Check to see which shape matches the place values where that digit occurs. Draw all such shapes, in required locations, about the digit. Repeat for the next used digit. "0" does not need a drawing. See Bonus Statements for why.

No lookup is required once the place value representations are memorized. The shapes always start from the lower right, are broken up by quadrants, and place value increases counter-clockwise. The shapes' order is Diamond, Circle, Star (concave arcs), Square, Stamp (w shapes on the outside of the square--makes an open rectangular shape from the digit in the middle. Same statement for decoding.

Decoding:

Click here to view the secret text

×Seek the one's place representative. Check the digit to which it applies. That is your one's digit. If you see no place value representative, the digit is a zero. Repeat as necessary until all place value markers have been accounted for.

Tattoo Test:

Click here to view the secret text

×The big thing here is that the shapes with digits are mobile, allowing for a wide range of individual placement, even though the shape is fixed, per digit. Movement does not destroy information, as in some other suggestions. More on this in Bonus Statements.

Drawn in Blood:

Click here to view the secret text

×It is a relatively short (and painless) representation. For ANY number, the maximum amount of things to place is 29. Up to 9 digits, and up to 20 shapes. While it may be a bit long for those middling numbers, it is fairly efficient for the big ones.

Napkin Test:

Click here to view the secret text

×If you have enough space for a desktop's numpad, you can use this method to represent your DRoD number.

Hey, I know you!:

Click here to view the secret text

×The non-linearity allows for additional knowledge, especially for a long-lost friend or cousin or something. Aside from that, it may take a bit long (5 mins?) to decode for certain, but there are several checks that will allow you to determine if you know someone immediately or not.

1. Do they have the same digit usage as the person I'm thinking of? (The person I'm thinking of has 4s, 2s, 6s, and 1s. This person has a 3! There's no way this is the person I'm considering.)

2. The person I'm thinking of has a unique shape in their representation. Does this person I see have that shape around that digit?

Bonus statements:

Click here to view the secret text

×Each place value is given one artistic stroke to represent it. See the attached image for all examples, as well as all of them stacked together.

The best thing about this is that the place value representations can stack. If a digit is repeated in a number, it is written once, with the stacked place-values it appears around it. See "1330" for an example.

The number "0" is represented by a blank place value. That is, if you don't see the place value represented, it is a zero. So technically, "1330" is equivalent to "133 preceded by 16 zeros, and followed by one zero", but the place value system contains both scientific notation and the ignorance of preceding zeros.

Even better, this system allows for encoding of up to (100 quintillion - 1). And it is easily extendable for numbers upwards, in case there was a miscalculation in the amount of necessary DRoD numbers.

Another bonus to this system is that since all of the data about place value is encoded around the digit, they are mobile. There is the option for aesthetic choice around the order of the numbers, or even if you want them placed randomly on a plane. There is no linearity here.

Admittedly, it can be somewhat ugly for the middling numbers (the thousands and millions)--but for the large numbers, I think it's quite beautiful.

coppro wrote:
For submission: Simpuhl Numbers

Click here to view the secret text

×

I consider this to be unique encodings with different artistic representations, like our English language and all the various handwriting styles and fonts that exist.

Encoding:

Click here to view the secret text

×This system is based on Simpuhl English. When I say to "attach" two numbers together, I mean that the primary number should have the second number much in the same way as one would connect letters in Simpuhl English.

If I speak of attaching a symbol, I mean a small mark of some sort, such as an arrowhead or a semi-circle. The specific representation is up to the artist. Never attach a symbol to a point that is part of two numbers. The symbols should be very clearly visible.

1. Divide the number into up to one group of two digits and 6 groups of three.

2. For the two-digit group, assume that it is a three-digit group with a 0 as the third digit.

3. A leading empty group must be omitted.

4. Write out the first number in each group.

5. Attach the second digit of the group

6. If the second digit is zero, it must be omitted - if a symbol would have to be added to the second digit in the next sentence, instead place it directly above - but independent from - the first.

7. If the third digit is greater than 5, add a symbol to the second digit and subtract 5 from the third digit.

8. Add a number of symbols to the first digit equal to the (newly modified) third digit.

Decoding:

Click here to view the secret text

×1. Write out a number of blank spaces equal to three times the number of characters in the DNoD, in groups of three.

2. For each character, place the largest digit in the first space of the corresponding digit.

3. Place the smaller digit of each character in the second space of the corresponding digit. If there is no smaller digit, place a zero.

4. Count the number of symbols attached to the larger digit. Place that number in the third space of the corresponding group.

5. If there is a smaller digit and it has a symbol attached, or if there is no smaller digit and there is a symbol above the larger digit, add 5 to the third digit of that group.

6. If there are seven digit groups, cross out the third digit of the first group (if it's not a zero, something is wrong).

Note: There is a special case of the quintillions group. This is not strictly necessary, but since it can never represent more digits, it shrinks the numbers. The system can be extended, in which case that special rule should be eliminated.

The Tattoo Test:

Click here to view the secret text

×There is a lot of room for artistry while still maintaining the fundamental meaning of the numbers - the way that the two digits are integrated, as well as the shape and positioning of the symbols. Not to mention the design of the numerals.

The Drawn in Blood Test:

Click here to view the secret text

×This is a good one. The use of interconnected digits saves strokes, and (since you are dying), you probably don't need to be that exacting. The symbols can simply be lines across the digits, leading to good legibility, but it's still quick to write.

The Cocktail Napkin Test:

Click here to view the secret text

×This is a great, easy system. It's not hard to translate to a number, even in your head!

The "Hey, I Know You!" Test:

Click here to view the secret text

×This test depends on the artistic interpretation - if you have 15 different ways of showing your DROD number in different places, no one will recognize it. But if you have a specific way of showing it, it's as unique as your signature - everyone will know exactly who you are just by the embellished style of your DROD tatoo.

Sample representations will be added in the morning.

Maurog wrote:
For submission: In Plain Sight

Click here to view the secret text

×
With this system I tried to make the DNOD abstract enough to not look like a number at first sight, yet really easy to decode when inspecting closely. For this purpose, there are no fancy number bases, just stylized decimal digits tightly packed in a box of up to 4x5 size. The depictions used are intentionally connecting as to always form a single shape (see second example below).

Description and Samples:

Click here to view the secret text

×

Encoding:

Click here to view the secret text

×This is really easy - take each digit of the number and convert into stylized form as in description above. Draw an initial box sized according to length of number - if the number of digits is N then: for N <= 3 a 1xN box, for 3 < N <= 10 a 2x(N[+1]/2) box (heading zero if needed), for N > 10, a box 5 digits wide and as high as needed, adding heading zeroes to complete to multiple of 5. Then just pack the digits in (order from left to right and top to bottom of course) and you're done.

Decoding:

Click here to view the secret text

×Extremely easy as well - just go over the digits one by one, it's already decimal.

The Tattoo Test:

Click here to view the secret text

×The depiction is rather compact and very abstract, doesn't look like a number at all, in fact, nobody would ever guess what meaning it has unless they know about the DNOD. A perfect secret society tattoo.

The Drawn in Blood Test:

Click here to view the secret text

×The compact pattern means most of the digits share lines in big numbers, also, the total number of lines is greatly decreased thanks to stacked digits combining.

The Cocktail Napkin Test (Encodability):

Click here to view the secret text

×Encoding is easy! After all, it's just decimal digits written in a stylized manner, nothing more.

The "Hey, I Know You!" Test (Decodability):

Click here to view the secret text

×If you know how to read it, you can just read it!

Tim wrote:
For Submission: Circular Lines

Click here to view the secret text

×
The Circular Lines is basically a different representation of decimal numbers. However, every symbol in this system can represent a number between 0 - 9999. It's similar to Jutt's Contour Script regarding the grouping of numbers, but unlike Jutt's system, this one uses a much simpler representation system that can be (de)coded easily.


Encoding and Decoding

Click here to view the secret text

×First, add zeroes in front of the number so that the number can be divided into groups of 4 digits, starting from the right. For example: 12345768 -> [1234][5678], 341265 -> [0034][1265], [2950] -> [2950].

Then, for each of these group, put the digits in a clockwise order, starting from the top right.

[1234] -> [4 1] [0034] -> [4 0] [2950] -> [0 2]
          [ . ]           [ . ]           [ . ]         
          [3 2]           [3 0]           [5 9]

Use the following table to draw the numbers for the first (top right) corner.



Note how the pattern in the table can be easily translated into a normal number. A staight line means 1, a circle part means 2, and an inverted circle part means 3, and every small circle means add 3.

For the second, third and last corner, rotate the pattern by 90, 180 and 270 degrees, like the following example.



As you can see from the example, decoding is not very hard.

Note that the colouring and the dots are not part of the representation, but is only used as a drawing/explanation aid. (I used MSPaint, and I can't draw.)

Examples:

Click here to view the secret text

×


Note that the colouring and the dots are not part of the representation, but is only used as a drawing/explanation aid. (I used MSPaint, and I can't draw.)

The tests

Click here to view the secret text

×Tattoo test: If you look at the examples, you'll see that the shapes that can be made from this system are quite simple, but still very nice to look at.

Drawn in blood: Even a complex 20-digit number can be drawn with 5 pen strokes.

Cocktail Napkin: Encoding is very simple, just split the number into groups of 4 digits, and draw them using the pattern table, which is also very simple to remember. You won't need any grid paper or much percision to draw the symbols.

Hey, I know you: Decoding is very easy as well, just split each of the symbols into 4 parts and determine the number according the pattern. While decoding the examples myself, I was actually surprised how fast this could be done.

golfrman wrote:
For Submission: Pentagon Quadrants

Click here to view the secret text

×
My system relies on 4 groups of 5 numbers, so that it can go up to 20 places. (The number of places in 29.5 quintillion.) There are 4 sections, each with a pentagon in it.
Each side stands for a number using the following method:

There will be a certain number of humps on a certain side for each number.
0: Nothing.
1: One hump on top.
2: Two humps on top.
3: Three humps on top.
4: One hump on bottom.
5: Two humps on bottom.
6: Three humps on bottom.
7: One hump on both sides.
8: Two humps on both sides.
9: Three humps on both sides.

So, for each pentagon, the numbers start from the top right side, and go clockwise. You read the sections in the following order: Top-right, top-left, bottom-left, bottom-right.And now, for examples:

Click here to view the secret text

×

Sorry it looks so bad, I can’t draw.

Those are, in order from top right CCW, 29.5 Quintillion; 1; 22,016,827,348,132,140,000; 3012.

So…
Tattoo Test: It can easily be written, and you could have it as a small tattoo on your bicep, or a big one on your back! It would also look cool if I had any drawing skills whatsoever. It looks awesome too!

Drawn in blood: It would be very easy to write if you only had blood, because it doesn’t have to be very big at all. And doesn’t require much writing.

Cocktail napkin test: It’s very easy to encode, just draw the cross thingy in the middle, 4 pentagons, then put the proper amount of humps on each side.

Hey, I know you!: Also very easy to decode. Just read the humps around in a circle and you’ll have it in no time.

eb0ny wrote:
For submission #2: Tetris blocks

Secreted for size, once again.

Click here to view the secret text

×
The number is built from arranged tetramino and pentamino blocks on the plane.

Encoding:
To encode number in this system, one must place predefined blocks on a 7 x INF board. The blocks, with corresponding values look like this:

Click here to view the secret text

×

And the board like this:

Click here to view the secret text

×

1) Blocks are placed in the same order the number is read from left to right. One must traverse the board from left to right row-by-row, and place the blocks as soon as possible (so there is only one arrangement for any number).

Note the following example of number 134261241:

Click here to view the secret text

×

The values on the blocks denote their order of placement.

2) Second step is to simplify the arrangement, by replacing the blocks with their simplified representations of lines. Example above becomes the following:

Click here to view the secret text

×

The gray grid is added for clarity.

Decoding:
To decode the number, one can remember the way it looks, or decode it digit-by-digit. The blocks' shapes are intuitive, so decoding should not be a hard task.

Examples:

Click here to view the secret text

×

Tests:
1) The Tattoo Test (Aesthetics) - One can play a lot with line thickness and color in the code's final form, the board can be stretched and rotated (and probably skewed). Others can revert to number's tetris form and the play with blocks' colors. It can be made nice, though worst-case tests don't look that good.

2) The Drawn In Blood Test (Elegance) - Writing efficiency is at least as good as decimal, as the abstracted blocks require one stroke (even '3'). Plus, it has a bonus of being easily represented in ASCII.

3) The Cocktail Napkin Test (Encodability) - With some practice step one can be skipped altogether and coctail napkin has more then enough space to encode a number.

4) The "Hey, I Know You!" Test (Decodability) - One can memorize visual cues, or decode the code digit-by-digit. Blocks' values are easy to remember, so this isn't very hard.

Compliance with rules:
1) The system uniquely depicts whole numbers from 1 to 29.5 quintillion. - True.

2) Each depiction for a number is repeatable, so that someone following your numeral system's rules will create a consistent depiction for any given number. - As long as the blocks are placed as described, this rule holds.

3) The system's depictions must be two-dimensional and consist of marks visible to the human eye. - True.

4) The system is an original invention of your own, although borrowing ideas from existing systems is fine. - Inspired by tetris, the blocks-to-number mapping idea is mine.

captainzakku wrote:
For Submission: DROD Number through DROD Characters

Click here to view the secret text

×
See attached word document for drawings of symbols. I'm retracting my previous submission as this is essentially the same idea, with cooler symbols.

Ok, again, general idea:

Click here to view the secret text

×Start with 25 basic symbols, as attached.

Click here to view the secret text

×0 = 0, and is never rotated
1 = Roach
2 = Roach Queen
3 = Goblin
4 = Rock Golem
5 = Wraith Wing
6 = Wubba
7 = Spider
8 = Serpent
9 = Rattler
10 = Adder
11 = Tar Baby
12 = Mud Baby
13 = Gel Baby
14 = Tar Mother
15 = Mud Mother
16 = Gel Mother
17 = Guard
18 = Mimic
19 = Decoy
20 = Clone
21 = Stalwart
22 = Goblin King
23 = Slayer
24 = Halph
25 = Beethro

For 26-50 rotate 1-25 clockwise 90 degrees
For 51-75 rotate 1-25 clockwise 180 degrees
for 76-99 rotate 1-24 clockwise 270 degrees

For 100-199 put a line over 0-99
For 200-299 put a line under 0-99
For 300-399 put /\ around 0-99
For 400-499 put \/ around 0-99
For 500-599 put a triangle around 0-99
For 600-699 put a square missing the bottom line around 0-99
For 700-799 put a square missing the top line around 0-99
For 800-899 put a full square around 0-99
For 900-999 put a diamond around 0-99

113, 213, 313, 413... etc are illustrated in the attached word doc, as is 29.5 quintillian.

This is a base 1000 number system, which is much easier to convert to base 10 than a base that is not a multiple of 10. Again, this means that at most we need 7 symbols to depict up to 999 quintillian unique numbers.

Tests:

Click here to view the secret text

×Tatoo Test
I think this is the strength of this system. You can put as much, or as little detail into each symbol as you want to. You could go as simple as I have in the word doc, or you could go Calamarain style, and have a tremendously intricate 3D esque slayer tatoo.

Blood Test
Again, as it only takes 7 symbols at most you could quickly write it out in blood, and maybe even have enough blood left over to survive the fight.

Napkin Test
Again, none of the symbols need be overly difficult to draw, and fitting 7 on a napkin would be fairly easy.

The "Hey, I know you" Test
I think this does well in that it leaves a lot of freedom to the individual to decide how there tatoo would be designed, which would certainly make distinguishing them much easier. Or at least as easy as trying to distinguish between 29.5 quintillian different symbolds could be.

Hope that isn't too confusing.

[edit] added an example of encoding a large number

Tuttle wrote:

Click here to view the secret text

×
For submission: (Five) Rings

Samples
See the attachment.

Summary
The basic diagram consists of concentric circles with ten intersecting radii. Digits are represented as marks on those intersections, four digits to a circle.

Encoding
1) Pad the number with leading zeroes so that its length is a multiple of four. For example, 62 becomes 0062.
2) Draw a diagram with concentric circles, one for each group of four digits. Draw ten evenly-spaced (at 36°) lines from the centre to the outermost circle. (Yes, that's five diameters, but they should be treated as ten lines.)
3) Make a short thick mark from the centre of the circle outwards a short way along one of the lines. This line now represents zero. The other lines represent one through nine, moving clockwise.
4) Look at the first digit of the number. Start at the point where the outermost circle meets that numbered line, and make a short thick mark along the line away from the centre.
5) Look at the second digit of the number. Start at the point where the outermost circle meets that numbered line, and make a short thick mark clockwise along the circle.
6) Look at the third digit of the number. Start at the point where the outermost circle meets that numbered line, and make a short thick mark along the line towards the centre.
7) Look at the fourth digit of the number. Start at the point where the outermost circle meets that numbered line, and make a short thick mark anticlockwise along the circle.
8) Repeat steps 4 through 7 for the next four digits and the next circle in. Keep repeating this process until the last four digits have been marked on the innermost circle.

For the sake of repeatability and creating a single correct representation for a given number, the following style guidelines exist. However, in the spirit of robustness, diagrams should still be decodable even if these guidelines are only loosely adhered to.
1) Where the diagram is drawn on a surface which has an obvious orientation, the zero line should point upwards.
2) The circles should be evenly spaced. If the innermost circle has radius r, the next circle should have radius 2r, the third circle radius 3r and so on.
3) Marks should be 0.3r in length. This avoids any potential overlaps.
4) Marks should be 2.5 times as thick as the other lines in the diagram.
5) The radius of the innermost circle should be 50 times the width of the normal lines (20 times the width of a mark).

Overall scale is deliberately left undefined, as this will depend on the surface and available tools. A tattoo in a private area will necessarily be smaller and more precisely drawn than a near-death finger painting.

Decoding
Note that digits are written from left to right (you're dealing with the most significant digit first).
1) Look at the mark in the centre of the diagram to identify the zero line, and hence the other line numbers.
2) Look at the outermost circle for the mark pointing outwards. Write down its number.
3) Look at the outermost circle for the mark pointing clockwise. Write down its number.
4) Look at the outermost circle for the mark pointing inwards. Write down its number.
5) Look at the outermost circle for the mark pointing anticlockwise. Write down its number.
6) Repeat steps 2 through 5 for the next circle in and the next four digits. Keep repeating the process until the innermost circle has been read.

Notes
This system has a number of pleasant side effects:
1) More dedicated DROD players (lower DROD numbers) get simpler diagrams. In fact, every currently allocated DROD player only needs one circle.
2) The sequence of marks (outwards, clockwise, inwards, anticlockwise) bears a striking resemblance to the North, East, South, West sequence known from serpent behaviour. This serves as a useful memory aid.
3) Careful selection of duel venues (for example in a pub near the dart board) can simplify dying gasp drawings -- the circle and lines already exist (ignoring every second line), and a number can then be written in as few as five marks.
4) If Erik underestimated his market, the system expands far beyond 29.5 American quintillion -- nothing prevents sixth and subsequent circles from being added.

The Tests
Aesthetics: It's simple, it's clean, and it can be as subtle or as bold as you like.
Elegance: Single short strokes rather than complex shapes make drawing simple. For lower numbers, a basic framework may already be available -- objects such as dart boards, CDs or speed limit signs can be used for pre-drawn circles in an emergency.
Encodability: It's pretty simple -- draw some circles, draw some diameters, make some marks. The sequence of marks is easily memorable from serpent movement; no heavy mental work is required.
Decodability: Also very simple -- read the marks off in order. The simple system of marks means that even a sloppily drawn diagram should still be readable.

Nuntar wrote:
Since I've left the forum, I'm not going to compete for the prizes, but I thought, as this contest is right up my street, I would post what I would have submitted if I were competing. It's entirely up to you whether to include this in the voting topic... I'm not too late, am I? *hastily opens up Paint*

Click here to view the secret text

×
OK, here we go. First, I have a set of symbols representing the numbers 1 to 25. Note that each is designed on the following principles:

* Each symbol comprises a small number of straight lines, for ease of tattooing and recognition.

* All symbols are distinct from each other and, once memorised, easy to recognise at a glance even if the symbol is not in upright orientation. (That is, there's nothing like our confusing 6s and 9s!)

* The symbols are (loosely) based on our familiar Arabic numerals, for ease of memorisation.

Click here to view the secret text

×

Then, adding a line above the symbol adds 25 to its value; adding a line to the left adds 50. The right and bottom sides are not used, as this might be confusing when symbols are put together to form a number.

Numbers are composed, the mathematically astute will have worked out already by this point, in a bijective base-100 system. That is, the last symbol is units, the next-last is 100s, the one before that is 10000s and so on. Rather than putting the symbols in a line, to make an aesthetically pleasing tattoo they can be placed in a rectangle or other group, depending on how many symbols are required. The symbols can, of course, be embellished with serifs or curves at the corners to make them more aesthetically pleasing.

Here's 29.5 trillion (quintillion to you Americans), which is a good illustration of how bijective numeration works:

Click here to view the secret text

×

That is, 100 + (99 x 100) is used for 10000, rather than the "1" symbol followed by two zeroes, since there is no zero. Half a trillion (quintillion) is "49" followed by seven "99"s and a "100". To make this up to 29.5 trillion (quintillion), of course you precede the whole thing by the "29" symbol.

Nuntar wrote:
Submission number two:

Click here to view the secret text

×This one is designed to communicate as much information as possible in the fewest lines possible. I have symbols for the numbers 1 to 100, each using only three lines, and they're designed so as to be as easy as possible to tell apart within that constraint, but obviously, for this one you have to know which way up the number is!

Click here to view the secret text

×

The number is formed in the same way as in my first submission, by putting ten of these symbols together, for a maximum of 30 lines. Here's 29.5 trillion (quintillion):

Click here to view the secret text

×

Nuntar wrote:
Submission number three.

Click here to view the secret text

×This submission is based on the following symbol. Black lines must be drawn; red lines can be excluded, included, or included double to give three possibilities for each, 3^41 in total, which is indeed more than 29.5 trillion (quintillion).

This requires a standard order for the red lines. First count those cutting the horizontal black line, from left to right; then those cutting the left vertical black line, from top to bottom; then those cutting the other vertical black line, from top to bottom; then going clockwise around the symbol starting at the top-left, counting each upper-left-to-lower-right diagonal line before its upper-right-to-lower-left counterpart, then finally the horizontal red line at the top of the symbol, then the bottom one.

Click here to view the secret text

×

Here's 29.5 trillion (quintillion), which I'll have to ask you believes corresponds to 2 10211 12122 12102 22021 21112 12001 11010 02121 in ternary:

Click here to view the secret text

×